The torso sinks down as if suspended by a plumb line and the sacrum is curved forward and the coccyx is tucked in and under, thus flattening the arch in the lower back.
As a means of testing such endurance, many kung fu masters require students to be able to hold Ma Bu for at least five minutes before being allowed to learn the forms of a style[citation needed].
The structure of the stance partially protects the groin and allows the martial artist to punch with greater power by driving the rear leg into the ground.
Both feet are parallel and pointing forward, relative to the torso, and like Zuo Pan Bu, the practitioner faces the opponent with his/her side.
A primary application of this stance is defense against high or jumping kicks, as evidenced in the tai chi technique "Strike the Tiger."
In traditional changquan forms, such as Yi Lu Mai Fu, the stance is used to pick up objects from ground for use as projectiles during combat.
Xuan Ji Bu (玄機步) is rendered as the "false" or "tricky leg" stance, associated with kicking attacks.
Zuo Pan Bu (坐盤步; literally sit; coil; step, but usually interpreted as "sitting on crossed legs stance") is also known as pan rao long bu (盤繞龍步; Pán Rào Lóng Bù) or "coiled dragon stance" as well as ban jia bu (半跏步; Bàn Jiā Bù) or "halfway sitting cross-legged stance" i.e. placing the feet with their outer edges adjacent to one another (which can only be accomplished by crossing your legs) but only lowering your buttocks halfway, never allowing them to actually touch the ground.
Regardless of how you attain the posture, the crossed legs protect the groin from attack and prepare the practitioner for easily executing a side kick with the front foot.
Si-Liu Bu (四六步; Sì Liù Bù) is the "four-six stance," used heavily as a defensive posture.
The stance is somewhat similar to Deng Shan Bu, with the exception of the greater weight distribution over the rear leg.
The stance is highly mobile, used for swiftly stepping forward or backwards, "changing legs," or leaping to the other side of an opponent.
Jin Ji Du Li (金雞獨立), translated as "golden rooster stands on one leg," is popularly known as the crane stance, used heavily in karate.
Unlike Fu Hu Bu, the extended foot contacts the ground with only the heel and faces forward.
Most praying mantis exponents assume a higher version of Tun Bu, in which the thigh is not parallel to the ground.
Qi Lin Bu (麒麟步) is the "unicorn stance," used primarily in Changquan and Northern Praying Mantis.
It is similar in appearance to Zuo Pan Bu, with the exception that the frontal foot's toes point to the left or right.
In changquan forms such as Shi Zi Tang (十字趟), it is employed as a low platform from which to execute uppercuts and front kicks.